DeRome leads to Patriot win over MCHS and WHS

WINCHESTER — It hasn’t been the smoothest sailing for the Patriots this season.

Slowly but surely, they are starting to return to form and lower their scores.

The Jay County High School boys golf team shot a 169 at Winchester Golf Club on Monday to come out on top of a three-team meet with Monroe Central and Winchester.

The Patriots (3-1) edged past the Monroe Central Golden Bears by just three strokes, while both teams crushed the Winchester Golden Falcons who shot a 217.

Caleb DeRome turned in the best performance of the day, shooting a 39 and earning match medalist honors.

Gage Sims finished only one stroke behind DeRome with a 40.

Cody DeHoff and Liam Garringer rounded out the team score as they finished with 43 and 47 strokes, respectively.

Luke Fugiett’s score of 54 out of the No. 5 spot didn’t end up impacting the team score.

Patriots roll

PARKER CITY — The Jay County baseball team has fully turned things around as they lifted their record above .500 for the first time this season by beating the Monroe Central Golden Bears 13-3 in five innings on Monday.

The Patriots (6-5) didn’t waste any time getting ahead of MCHS (2-11) by scoring 11 runs in the first two innings.

Ryne Goldsworthy and Joe Geesaman drove in runs in the first inning, while Drew Schemenaur, Parker Nichols, Geesaman, Kade Sommers, Cody Rowles and Jackson Edwards plated eight in the second. The Golden Bears never came close to the Patriots’ lead after the second inning.

Sommers earned the win by pitching three innings, in which he surrendered two unearned runs on four hits.

Each of the nine starters contributed offensively by either driving in a run or scoring a run themselves.

Starfires outshine JC

BERNE — The South Adams Starfires handed the Jay County girls tennis team its first Allen County Athletic Conference loss of the season Monday 3-2.

Brenna Bailey and Maggie Dillon both went into three sets in the No. 2 and 3 singles matches. Dillon pulled out for a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory, while Bailey fell 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2.

Brenna Haines joined Dillon with the only other Patriot victory in the No. 1 singles, beating the Starfires’ top netter 6-3. 6-4.

Meredith Dirksen and Sophia Sprunger dropped the No. 1 doubles contest 6-2, 6-4, while Lucie Henneaux and Chloe Ruiz fell 6-1, 6-1 in the No. 2 doubles match.

The junior varsity team picked up three wins on the day. Zion Beiswanger and Raylah Newton both won singles matches by scores of 6-4 and 6-3, respectively.

Courtney Harris and Audrey Muhlenkamp also pulled off a 6-4 victory.

Pitching overwhelmed

FORT RECOVERY — The Fort Recovery softball team couldn’t quiet the Tri-Village Patriots in an 11-1 loss on Monday.

The Patriots (8-1) put up crooked numbers on the Indians (5-9) in the second and sixth innings with three and five runs, respectively. Six errors also played a key role in Fort Recovery’s downfall.

Britney Tebbe got saddled with the loss, giving up four earned runs on six hits in three innings pitched. Jenna Homan gave up seven runs over the final three innings on six walks and five hits.

The Indians’ only run came in the bottom of the second inning. Jenna Homan led off with an infield single and Cali Wendel laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Homan into scoring position. Kylie Post then delivered the two-out single to drive Homan in.